i'm in the process of reading the report. big city budget cuts. mayor's ideas for saving your tax dollars. we will have major services unlike light rail as a result of this incident. a light rail crash in cockeysville, how it will affect your commute. and maryland doctors on the front lines. we take you to haiti on a mission of hope. good morning. it's wednesday, march 24th. i'm patrice harris. we're midweek through the

week and nicer weather should be on its way. meteorologist steve fertig is here to fill us in on those details. we got through another. >> a little rain, not much, but it looks like we have a prettier day today, a lot of sunshine on the way. temperatures warmer in the 50s except it won't feel a lot warmer because we're still breezy. >> but no rain. >> no rain. >> 48 degrees in baltimore. 48 in hagerstown. 47 degrees in salisbury with skies clearing, though. you see the clouds on the sky watch hd radar giving way to clearing skies overnight and now look forward to a very sunny ahead. the low pressure center way off to the north and east out of our way. we look forward again to a very dry day. 64 degrees should do it for the high temperature, and west northwest winds will make it breezy at 15-25 miles per hour. as i say, a pretty day coming your way today. we do want to see what is happening on the roadways right now. lauren cook is in for candace

dold. >> reporter: we are dealing with delays on the light rail. there's a shuttle bus available to the timonium. cars are cruising both along the outer loop and inner loop lanes just fine. that commute is going to continue as we make our way along the beltway, you're looking at an 11-minute trip with an average speed of 55 miles per hour. all is clear on the tun tunnels traveling. from the harbor tunnel toll plaza 295, you're looking at a 9-minute trip with an average speed of 54 miles per hour. that's a look at the morning travels. patrice, let's send it back to you. mayor stephanie rawlings blakrelease a deep cutting budgt

today. she is expected to release some the recommendations from her team that says there's waste in city government. megan gilliland is live at city hall with more. >> reporter: the mayor released the report. and they found waste in mismanagement from trash issues. mayor rawlings-blake who took office met with the department heads and the recommendations. in the report the 250 member team recommended that the mayor create a program to get rid of the vacant homes. >> we're taking a very comprehensive look. we are looking at the property that owned by the city. we're looking add where they are in the city. is there any other investment that is going on. is there any other development that is going on? >> reporter: among other ideas, the transition team also recommended to privatize trash

collection, and they're recommending to extract property taxes from nonprofits like hospitals and schools. ideas the mayor is expected to take into consideration before she releases her budget plan. the city is facing a $31 million budget deficit at this point. in the very tough times the mayor will not be accepting her nearly 4,000 cost of living raise she was expected to be getting today. megan gilliland. fox 45 early edition. homicide detectives were called to a shooting at the intersection of pilgrim road and rose lawn avenue. police say the victims had been shot several times. there's no word on a suspect or motive at this hour. the numbers show that the homicide rate in baltimore is down. at this time last year 49 people had been killed in baltimore

city, so far this year, that number is just 36. two towson university students are assaulted and robbed at gunpoint inside their campus dorm room. it happened monday afternoon at the glen complex inside tower b. one student was struck with a metal crowbar and suffered minor injuries. a second suspect carried a semiautomatic handgun. they made off with personal property from the dorm room. police release the frantic 911 call connected to a murder-suicide in carroll county last week. it happened at this home in ham instead. police say 45-year-old michael swift broke into the home where his ex-wife lived with her new fiancé. he shot the fe fiancé and turned the gun on himself. his wife was not hurt and called

police for help. >> is your boyfriend still breathing? >> police say swift was out of jail on bond facing several charges for possession of illegal machine guns and other weapons including materials to make a bomb. jury selection is expected to begin today in the case of two brothers accused of drug and gun possession. 18-year-old twins travis and tremaine johnson will be in court this morning. opening statements will be expected later this afternoon. once this trial is complete. the brothers will face animal cruelty charges. they're accused of burning a 1-year-old pitbull alive. that animal was eventually euthanized. a collision between a train and a tractor trailer is still affecting light rail service this morning. it happened in cockeysville yesterday when witnesses say the truck pulled in front of the train causing a major crash and

sending the train's driver to shock trauma. now that driver is in serious condition, but her injuries don't appear to be life-threatening. as for commuters in the area, they need to give themselves some extra time today. the normally taking the light rail will instead need to get on a shuttle bus between hunt valley and timonium light rail while the mechanical problems on the line are being repaired. this is what happened. yesterday before 9:30 a northbound tractor trailer collided with the southbound light rail on gilroy road. passengers pulled in front of the train causing the crash. there are no gates in front of the intersection. the front of the train was crashed with the operator inside. she was trapped for a half an hour before a rescue team get her out and get her to shock trauma. several passengers were taken to

shock trauma with minor injuries, the rest were left to wonder how all of this happened. >> a little girl who got off the train was shaking very cold and got her a blanket. and tried to help her out. >> it's amazing when we look at this accident, that we have only one patient. drivers should get off at the timonium station and continue their trip on the shuttle bus on hunt valley. those traveling southbound should board the bus at hunt valley and disembark on the timonium stop and continu and cp on light rail. light rail continues for all other stops. healthcare reform is now the law of the land. >> [applause] >> president barack obama signed legislation into law yesterday. he was surrounded by lawmakers who supported the overhaul and by people who struggled with the

current system. even at the bill signing president barack obama continued to sell the health plan to a deeply divided. >> once this health form is implemented a comet tive compete marketplace will be created where people can purchase affordable insurance. >> the bill passed on sunday night. no republicans voted for it. they insist that the bill will drive the u.s. economy deeper into debt. according to a gallop poll, the majority of people say the passing of the bill by congress is a good thing. 49% liked it compared to 41% who didn't. 11% of the vote had no opinion. some said it was a bad thing, and independence were split right you down the middle. a maryland lawmaker wants to block some of the new healthcare

bill for maryland residents. republican don dwyer introduced a bill that would prohibit special penalties, taxes and fines for people who don't buy health insurance. in the new healthcare bill starting in 2014, most americans will be required to carry health insurance for the very first time. otherwise you will face tax penalties. dwyer admits his proposal isn't likely to pass. democrats control both chambers of the maryland general assembly. maryland senators want drivers to keep both hands on the wheel and not on a cell phone. the senate gave initial approval yesterday to a measure that outlaws holding a cell phone while driving. drivers can still talk while driving, they just need a hands free device to do it. violators could face a $40 fine. some lawmakers say the law sunt go far enough. they want to ban the use of cell phones while driving altogether.

hundreds of people pounded the pavement at fox 45 job boot camp at the state fairgrounds yesterday. they all showed up looking for work and for help turning themselves into the best candidates they can be. one of the highlights at the job boot camp, our sell yourself in 30 seconds booth where job seekers got half a minute to get employers' attention. >> good morning, my name is david francis, a former truck driver who recently had to undergo a career change which i facilitated by attending a school of contrary technology training which entailed all the skills that i would need in my pursued of an administrative and/or clear ca clerical positir firm. i'm certain i can be an asset to your company and look forward to

meeting you hopefully in person. >> to watch more sell yourself 30 second clips, go to foxbaltimore.com and he click on the job boot camp on the left side of the screen. taking on the billboard biggest hit. find out which contestant hit the right notes on last night's american idol. and we're going to hit the right know weather wise today with more sunshine and milder

one of the top 11 contestants is destined to be a a chart topper. no surprise that this week all the american idol hopefuls sang number one billboard hits. ♪ ♪ can you believe in me ♪ don't understand ♪ superstition makes the way ♪

>> shiobon reinterpreted the classic magic superstition. >> i'm so excited to see you because you're so fearless. i never would have thought you would have sung that song. but you know what, man, i'm happy you did. i loved it, man. you just went for it and you go for it. you got so much conviction. i love you. you should inspire these kids. >> let us know what you thought of last night's show. you can post your reaction at facebook or twitter page or send us a tweet at fox baltimore. you can follow candace on her idol blog as she takes us behind the scenes all season long. just go to foxbaltimore.com and click on american idol under the entertain section and of course, you can watch who goes home tonight on american idol tonight at 9:00 here on fox 45. and now let's check in with meteorologist steve fertig and the shiobon is one of your

favorites. >> i think she is one of better ones there. agreed with simon, all night he kept saying that from all of the songs you can pick from, i don't know what they are picking. stevie wonder, can't beat that one. temperatures should be smiled, and sky watch hd radar looking pretty good over our region and very dry. we're only seeing showers up new england and moving out of the area as low pressure continues moving in that direction. for us, we're looking good, 48 degrees clear skies, west winds 7 miles an hour, it will breezier later on today, we believe with 15-20-mile-an-hour winds out there. right now not too bad. 61% relative humidity, 29.8 and rising on the barometer. and temperature wise in the 40s throughout the area. salisbury at 47. 48 at hagerstown, uniform, too, getting out to oakland where it's cooler, 36 in garrett county.

as we look at the surface features, there goes the low well out of our way. the winds around it, are coming, bringing us a as i said, 15-20-mile-an-hour winds through the afternoon and the evening. a lot of sunshine on p ta. the winds are going to make the temperatures feel chillier. that frontal bon brie is going - boundary is going to bring in cooler air. a chance of showers moves our way as the low moves in our direction from the mississippi valley area and comes here probably by tomorrow night. most of the day tomorrow should be okay, but tomorrow night we see the rain move in and showers early friday before it finally moves out of here by the afternoon, friday and then we turn partly cloudy on the afternoon on friday, and the rest of the weekend turns dry even though it will be cooler. eastern shore, a lot of sunshine, windier than elsewhere, 15-25-mile-an-hour winds, gusting to 35. the central part of the state, the same 64 degrees but breezy with a 24-40-mile-an-hour wind,

making it feel chillier. it won't feel as warmer as it will be for the winds. the 15-20-mile-an-hour wind, with plenty of sun for you as well. 40 degrees should be the overnight low, and cooler tonight and breezy, but the winds will die down as high pressure moves overhead overnight and into tomorrow. here is what we're looking at today. 48 degrees starting out, getting to 58 by noon. getting to the high of 54 by 3 to 4:00, and 61 degrees at 6:00 p.m. still with mostly clear skies. 63 tomorrow a mild dry day, with more clouds later at night with the showers moving in into your friday morning. we dry out on friday, a high of 50 only, so that will be chilly for sure. the higher elevations by friday could see a couple of snow flakes out there. nice, dry day for saturday and sunday, too. partly cloudy, though, the clouds do move in much like the

thursday night into friday will be the situation sunday into friday with the showers moving in overnight and into early on monday. 56 for the high with more showers through the day, and 55 with early showers on your tuesday. fox 45 sky watch weather is available at your finger tips. the iradar is available at foxbaltimore.com. you can use fox 45 powerful doppler radar to track incoming storms. interactive tools will let you see when rain will be over your house. go to foxbaltimore.com and click on iradar. let's check on the roadways, candace dold is not in, but in for her is lauren cooke. >> reporter: we're dealing with the light rail delays due to the yesterday's crash. there's going to be shut bus available between the timonium station. 59 traveling southbound oat jfx and we're looking at 54 miles per hour on 95 moving through whitemarsh. as we take a live look at this

northeast corridor of 95, you will see no problems to report at 43 you can see cars are cruising along both the northbound and southbound lanes just fine. that good news will continue if you're traveling the beltway. it's going to be a smooth ride from parkville all the way up to towson and from towson to the 83. as we take a live look at 83 here at 695, you can see not many cars on the road, so you have nothing to worry about in this vicinity. and that good news will continue if you're trai traveling on thex it should be a trouble free ride from 695 downtown to east fayette street. that's a look at your morning travels.

the next chapter in the health care fight will play out in the midterm elections, but also in the courts. crime and justice reporter joy lepola takes a look at whether the healthcare reform law is constitutional. >> [applause]. >> reporter: virtually as soon as president obama signed a controversial healthcare bill into law, 13 states joined forces and filed a lawsuit in federal court to stop the new law from taking effect claiming that's inconstitutional. >> the only way a state could challenge the federal law would

be if the state could convince the supreme court that the federal law violated the constitution. that's why we then get into the question of the claimer ease clause. >> the government would be compelling people to buy a product. >> reporter: traditional insurance is a state matter. >> right here we have a classic state/federal fight over who should be -- who should be regulating matters involving in this case healthcare insurance. >> reporter: maryland has yet to join in the fight and probably won't. maryland attorney general dough gensler helped to campaign for the president in his bid for the white house. such a challenge would be premature. >> the arguments that this healthcare law are up constitutional, are clever, creative, good conservative lawyers have come up with them, but the truth is that they're

pretty speculative. >> reporter: besides lawsuits, many states are putting up legislative barricades, prohibiting the federal mandate from taking effect. in other states, there's an effort to amend constitution to block the new healthcare law. in maryland, senator ej pipken introduced one of those bills. >> it becomes all the more important that the citizens of the state of maryland tell the photograph government that they're not going to be forced to purchase healthcare or be fined if they don't i think this is far from over. i think that it will continue as a battle that will consume public attention at least for the rest of the year. it's unlikely to end unless there's a successful repeal in the next congress. it's unlikely to end for years. >> reporter: joy lepola, fox 45 morning news. among those present at the white house yesterday was maryland's own governor o'malley. coming up later on the early edition, a city police officer

facing new federal charges. what investigators say he did. but next, problems with

stocks finish higher and china is now responded to google's tour a cross the

country senator ship. >> reporter: the dow gaining over 100 points, blue chips up for 10 of the last 11 sessions. china firing the latest fight with google. they're blocking sensors to goog uh-huunsensors. limited bail out companies, that include general motors and aig. executive pay at those companies will stay at or below $500,000. the house market is still on the lump but not as bad as people thought. sales of previously owned home down than expected. new orders were down 5% last quarter compared to last year, kb says it expects to be profitable later this year. if you complain toyota will replace it. according to a memo sent to dealers, toyotas will replace the pedals that were repaired as

a massive recall as several customers have complained about the fix. that is business, i'm adam shapiro. coming up remembering a man killed in east baltimore, what family and friends have planned for this evening.